BY JEFF CHUDZINSKINorth Country This Week

CANTON — State Police Investigator Daniel Haley took the stand for the third day in a row at the Adam Smith murder trial, detailing key evidence in the cases. 

Smith stands accused of murder Ronald “Huck” Durham on Feb. 11, 2023 in Eastside Cemetery, Gouverneur, and William Freeman on March 2, 2023 in the town of Rossie. 

Haley was cross examined for nearly six-hours by District Attorney Gary Pasqua on Oct. 30 and 31,  with defense attorney Brian Barrett taking his opportunity to call into question the practices of State Police and forensic unit policies during his cross examination. 

History of responding to homicides 

When asked by Barrett about his experience investigating homicides, Haley said he had responded to “at least three” prior to responding to the murder of Ronald Durham on Feb. 11. 

Having joined the BCI team Jan. 5, 2023, Haley said he was on the job as an investigator for “just a few weeks” prior to receiving the call to go to Gouverneur. 

Having previously worked as a crime scene technician as a trooper beginning in 2016, Haley said he had experience working on numerous cases through the years, dozens of which required he and investigators to work through numerous crime scenes. 

As part of his assigned duties on the Durham murder case, Haley said he attempted to use a latent print test to pull fingerprints from a knife found in a garbage bag in Smith’s truck, along with a cell phone that he later learned was Ronald Durham’s. 

“But you don’t have any sort of training as a latent print examiner, do you?” Barrett asked. 

Haley explained that there are two levels of training for latent print examinations, level one being how to pull a print and level two being how to read and compare prints. 

“So, I am qualified to pull a print, yes sir,” Haley said. 

Search warrants questioned 

In reference to searching the residences of Freddie Wing, who previously confessed to murdering Durham, as well as Smith and Ronald Durham’s brother Dan, Barrett questioned who applied for the search warrants. 

Haley said he was unsure of who applied for the search warrants, as he did not prepare any search warrant applications. 

“Why did you get a search warrant to search Ronald Durham’s vehicle? Is it typical of the State Police to obtain a search warrant for a victim’s vehicle?” Barrett asked. 

Haley said it was in fact common practice for State Police to do so to ensure that all legal bases are covered when possessing and investigating property belonging to someone involved in a crime, no matter what capacity they may have been involved. 

He testified that following a preliminary investigation into Durham’s vehicle, which turned up multiple spots of potential blood spatter, a superior instructed Haley to take Durham’s truck to FIU headquarters in Ray Brook for further investigation. 

Haley confirmed that the vehicle was stored securely in the garage in Ray Brook that only FIU team members and a senior investigator had access to, ensuring the evidence was secure. 

When asked by Barrett about the tire tread pattern on Smith’s truck and whether Haley was an expert in identifying tire treads, Haley said he was not. 

No expert was called in to match the tread patterns, nor was a cast made, Haley said.

Searching Wing’s residence 

Shortly after the death of Ronald Durham on Feb. 11, police investigated Freddie Wing’s involvement in the homicide. 

Haley said he was told on Feb. 12 that Wing had confessed to the murder, after which investigators secured a search warrant to investigate Wing’s residence on Van Buren Road which happened to be just a few hundred yards down the road from the scene of the crime. 

“What were you looking for at Freddie Wing’s residence?” Barrett asked. 

“We were told to look for knives specifically,” Haley said. 

Upon investigating, Haley said multiple knives were found at the residence and taken back to SP Gouverneur for latent fingerprint testing. 

No conclusive results suggested Wing used any knives at the residence during the course of the homicide. 

Haley also confirmed that he took a water bottle from the bathroom of SP Gouverneur for evidence after another investigator told him Freddie Wing had used the bottle.

“But you never actually saw Freddie Wing drink from that bottle, did you?” Barrett asked. 

“No, I was told he had though,” Haley said. 

He commented that the bottle was to be used for DNA testing in the case. 

Durham autopsy 

After completing his work at Freddie Wing’s residence around 12:30 p.m. or so, Haley said he made his way to Canton-Potsdam Hospital where Ronal Durham’ autopsy was being conducted. 

Haley said the autopsy took “multiple hours,” which Dr. Scott Lapoint also testified to on the first day of the trial on Oct. 22. 

“And who was there during the autopsy?” Barrett asked. 

Haley identified multiple State Police Investigators who were in attendance and brought a camera to document the process. 

“Who helped lift the body out of the body bag?” Barrett asked. 

“I helped lift the body, it was a team effort,” Haley said. 

Barrett asked what precautions Haley used, to which he replied that he wore gloves so as to not cross contaminate evidence. 

After completing the autopsy, Haley said he took multiple articles of clothing, boots, knives and other personal belongings to SP Massena for safekeeping before they could be transported to Ray Brook for further testing. 

He said a number of swabs were also used and a vial of blood was drawn as well. 

“Why did you take a vial of blood?” Barrett asked. 

“It’s standard practice to do a blood draw, at least two vials, for testing after a suspicious death,” Haley said. 

“So, why did you only have one vial then?” Barrett asked. 

“Because there was significant blood loss. There wasn’t much blood left,” Haley said. 

Haley said he took Durham’s belongings, eventually taking them to Ray Brook for further examination. 

He said he utilized a SEPS unit which carefully dries clothing that may be covered in blood, water or other liquids while also preserving evidence. 

Upon completion, Haley said the items were swabbed and tested or sent out for further lab tests. 

Beginning Freeman investigation 

While Haley’s work on the Durham case was largely finished before March, the murder of William Freeman on March 2 reignited the prior investigation. He said he began work on the Durham case again on March 6. 

Haley said he responded to Freeman’s residence in Rossie shortly after the murder came to light. 

According to his testimony, Haley was called to the St. Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office to be briefed on the situation before being dispatched to the scene. 

Much like the Durham investigation, Haley said he was on scene to document evidence, take photos and pursue any potential leads. 

He said the residence was “less than 100 yards” from the highway, with an entrance to the rear of the structure. 

Barrett asked if Haley had documented the contents around the property, including a snow blower and other property that was openly visible when surveying the area. 

“I did not, sir,” Haley responded. 

Barrett then asked if Haley had conducted a latent fingerprint test on the door knob to enter Freeman’s residence. 

Haley shot back, asking Barrett if he thought Haley was the lead investigator on the case or was responsible for all forensic testing of the scene. 

Haley said he was not and in fact was on scene to document through still photos and other investigative techniques to gather evidence of the crime. 

He also commented that there were numerous investigators on scene and that he was not part of the search warrant application for Freeman’s residence. 

Searching Smith’s residence, truck

In a continuation of his testimony from Oct. 31, Haley detailed his work in searching Smith’s residence in Antwerp following his work at the Freeman residence. 

A search warrant was issued for Smith’s residence in Antwerp, which State Police executed on March 3. 

Haley said luggage and documents were found at the scene but noted, when promoted by Barrett, that it did not appear that all of Smith’s property was at the location. 

Marilyn Durham, daughter of Ronald Durham, confirmed in her testimony earlier this week that Smith had been storing some of his belongings at the home she previously shared with her father Ronald. 

After securing a number of items that were deemed to be evidence, Haley said he transported the evidence to SP Massena and secured the evidence in a locker at the barracks. 

Haley also once again detailed securing and transporting Smith’s truck back to SP Gouverneur and eventually Ray Brook, saying the truck was always in State Police possession and that he had followed the truck on both trips. 

“I always had eyes on the vehicle,” he said. 

A detailed search of the vehicle was conducted on March 9 in Ray Brook, at which time Haley said he took multiple swabs of what “appeared to be consistent with blood.” 

Those samples were sent to the Albany crime lab for testing, he said. 

Barrett asked Haley if swabs were taken on any of the knives recovered, including that which was found in a garbage bag in Smith’s truck. 

Haley said he did not. 

“Why would you not swab the knife?” Barrett asked. 

Haley responded that evidence that can be transported to the crime lab for testing usually is, while larger items like vehicle doors require swabs. In the case of a seat, Haley said he used an exacto-style knife to cut the fabric out to send away for testing as opposed to utilizing a swab. 

Haley will return to the stand on Monday, Nov. 4 at 10 a.m. to continue his testimony.